The Mississippi Blues Trail & 100 Men Hall: A Camper’s Tour

Most people come to Bay St. Louis for the beach. They stay for the music. At 303 Union Street, a pale green building with over a century of stories inside it has been pulling crowds since before the Great Depression. The 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis is one of the Gulf Coast’s last surviving juke joints, a Mississippi Blues Trail landmark, and one of the best reasons to extend your trip by a few nights.

A Hall Built by 100 Men

The One Hundred Members’ Debating Benevolent Association incorporated in Bay St. Louis in 1894. By 1922 the members had built the hall that still stands on Union Street. During segregation, 100 Men Hall gave Black entertainers a stage when most doors along the coast were closed. Etta James played here. So did Big Joe Turner, Guitar Slim, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Ernie K-Doe, and Earl King. The building survived Hurricane Katrina, earned a restoration grant, and was recognized with an official Mississippi Blues Trail marker shortly after.

Today the hall hosts roughly 80 events a year — live music, film screenings, private events, and community gatherings. The programming leans into the creative energy of the Mississippi and Louisiana Delta, but you will find everything from blues and jazz to indie film festivals on the calendar. The Bay St. Louis Film Festival kicked off 2026 right here in January.

What the Mississippi Blues Trail Actually Is

The Mississippi Blues Trail is a series of historical markers placed across the state at locations that shaped the blues. Think of it as a road trip built into the landscape — each marker tells the story of a musician, a venue, or a moment. The Gulf Coast alone has eight markers, stretching from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula. The 100 Men Hall marker stands at the hall itself, making it one of the easiest trail stops to visit because the building is still active. You are not reading a plaque about something that used to be. You are reading a plaque about something happening tonight.

For RV travelers working their way along the coast, the Blues Trail connects naturally with other Gulf Coast stops in Biloxi (~30 minutes east of the park), Gulfport, Pass Christian, and Ocean Springs. You could spend a full week chasing markers and never run out of live music to hear after dark.

Why Bay St. Louis Is the Right Base Camp

Bay St. Louis has the density that makes a music trip work. Old Town — about a 10-minute drive north of Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park — packs art galleries, locally owned restaurants, and live music venues into a few walkable blocks. 100 Men Hall sits on the edge of that scene. Second Saturday, the town’s monthly art walk, regularly features live performers in shops and on sidewalks. Between the hall’s calendar and Old Town’s regular programming, you will not have a quiet evening unless you want one.

The town also sits roughly an hour from New Orleans, which means the same musicians who play Frenchmen Street often turn up on Gulf Coast stages for smaller, more intimate shows. Silver Slipper Casino, literally next door to Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park (https://bslrv.com), brings touring acts through its own entertainment calendar. You can catch a show without moving your rig.

Staying at Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park

The park is about a 10-minute drive from 100 Men Hall and Old Town. That puts you close enough to catch a weeknight show without planning your whole day around it. The 37 full-hookup pads are concrete-level with 30/50 AMP service, complimentary Wi-Fi, and BBQ grills at every site. Self-contained RVs only — no outdoor units — which keeps the park quiet when you get back late from a set.

If you are making the Blues Trail a multi-day project, monthly rates are available. Contact the park directly for current pricing and availability. Between the trail markers, Old Town, the casino next door, and Buccaneer State Park nearby, a week fills itself without trying. Reserve a pad at Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park (https://bslrv.com) and build the rest of the trip around whatever is on the 100 Men Hall calendar that week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis?

100 Men Hall is a historic music venue at 303 Union Street in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Built in 1922 by the One Hundred Members’ Debating Benevolent Association, it served as a vital performance space for Black entertainers during segregation and now hosts roughly 80 public events per year.

Is 100 Men Hall on the Mississippi Blues Trail?

Yes. 100 Men Hall has an official Mississippi Blues Trail marker installed at the building. The marker recognizes the hall’s role in Gulf Coast blues history and the legendary musicians who performed there.

How far is 100 Men Hall from Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park?

100 Men Hall is about a 10-minute drive from Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park. The hall is located in the Old Town area of Bay St. Louis, north of the park along Beach Boulevard.

Can you buy tickets to events at 100 Men Hall?

Yes. The hall posts its event calendar and ticket links at 100menhall.com. Events range from live music and film screenings to private gatherings. Check the schedule before your trip so you can plan around a show.

What other Mississippi Blues Trail markers are on the Gulf Coast?

The Gulf Coast has eight Blues Trail markers total, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Moss Point, and Pascagoula. RV travelers based in Bay St. Louis can reach every coastal marker within about an hour’s drive.

Ready to book your stay? Reserve a pad at Bay St. Louis Beachfront RV Park: https://bslrv.com

Check the 100 Men Hall calendar before you pick your dates — the best pads go fast when a big show is on the schedule.